Dancing in the Park
The city had going on today, and again on Wednesday, some dancing in Millennium Park. I didn’t get to stick around as long as I would’ve liked, but hey, whatever. Got an okay image or two, and I always love good break dancing.
If you want to see it it will be happening again on Wednesday from 4-6pm, starts at Crown Fountain (the spitting fountains on Michigan Ave.) and works around the park from there.
Wilderness in the City
As much as I’m a city boy, and I am a city boy, damn, I just want to go hide in the woods most days. It always amazes how much of an option that really is in this city though.
Over the last umpteen years I’ve gotten to know a lot of little wilderness, or wilderness-y hideouts in the Chicago-land area. From the likes of some of the Forest preserves, to Northerly Island, and little odd spots here and there this city has some often surprising little hideaways.
Now, I’m not calling any of these a real replacement for the real Great Outdoors, but they are an escape from the city, a brief respite. I look for a lot of these places.
This is why I have to say I was a bit suprised to find a bird sanctuary right by downtown that I didn’t know about. This is by an area that I have biked past about 5 times so far this summer, and probably over 50 times in my life. It’s just south of McCormick Place and is called, shockingly enough, the McCormick Place Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary.
It’s actually a green roof for a parking garage, though you’d never know that unless you were told or were looking for the scattered air vents and emergency exits. From the surrounding areas it doesn’t look like much, just a grassy slope. 
Because it’s a plains/grassland environment this is enough to obscure it from sight. It’s not till you get into it that you lose most of the city, and get lost in high grasses.
Unfortunately or fortunately it’s closed off to people to protect the habitat, or at least much of it is. Regardless, it’s a nice little escapist gem in this city.
Now…back to work and driving. Ugh.
Where’s Josh?
Yeah, I’ve disappeared, I may stay disappeared for a while. Life is just busy. Good busy. Lots of biking, I’m hoping to add lots of kayaking, lots of living, which means less time to talk about living. I’m good with this, quite frankly.
You want to know much more? Drop me a line, drop me an email, or better yet, let’s go hang out, get out, and enjoy life. I’m around, I’ll just be around this particular locale less for a while. Later.
(having said that, watch, I’ll update every day for next month. Isn’t that just how it works?)
Celebratory Moment
I want to take a moment to celebrate my many amazing friends.
There is the Strange Tree Group, which comprises many wonderful friends. They have put together a show that is getting rave reviews left and right. Go see it, it’s worth it. (I would also like to note a member of that social crowd, or two actually, who have agreed to legally become one. Rock on! She wouldn’t answer me when I asked if she was pregnant. Hmmm…) (And for those who expressed an interested in going with me, I believe I’m going to go on the 10th, next Thursday.)
There is Chicago Tap Theatre who also has an awesome show up at the moment, also receiving high marks and reviews, as always for them. You should see their show also. Not to mention they are just incredibly kind and wonderful people. Really, just unnaturally nice. It disturbs me. (For those who asked, I’m going to try to be going this Saturday, but I’m not sure yet, of course.)
A friend who is about to leave for Texas to slack, I mean write poetry for three years. If I knew I could do that and call it grad school earlier I would’ve applied.
Another friend fighting back from surgery that stopped her work. She thinks she’s more alone than she is, which sucks, but she fights hard all the same. She will win, at least I know she will. I also know someday she’ll look at me and say, “Josh, you were right.” But I know that is true with most of you.
A friend who is taking a chance and starting a band. Lawyer by day, tap dancer by night. My kind of person, good human being, and pushing the bounds of what can in any reality be considered reasonable. Good stuff.
Another who is going to get the results of an important test tomorrow afternoon. Cross your fingers.
A friend I mentioned a while back, Peter “George” Ksander, who recently won an Obie for scenic design. Apparently in the theater world this is really big, as I’m not in that world, umm…okay, rock on George.
A friend who is building/re-building her life after a really hard year. One of those times when it’s not about winning awards, but just about being happy. It’s truly amazing, and wonderful to watch. Love is beautiful, I’ve known that for a long time, but she has shown me that on a level that is difficult to appreciate, express, and fills me day after day.
A friend who is (I guess it should be a “they” but really, are his hormones going nuts? Nope, it’s all about her) pregnant with her third. Cool stuff, though I’d never, ever, ever want to be pregnant, but I’m happy for her.
The list just keeps going and going and going. I can’t even remember off the top of my head all the awesome things all my friends are pulling off these days. In the world of problems, what a great problem to have.
I really do have the best friends in this world. And I keep finding more. I guess I’m just greedy.
Product Placement Time, II
You know em’, you love em’, or at least you know I love em’, and isn’t that a wonderful thing that everyone wants? It’s time for another performance by Chicago Tap Theatre (howdy lovely ladies, and Mark and Phil).
It’s there annual summer story show, a superhero comic tap opera, or a continuation/re-introduction of last year’s story of Hourglass (the comic book superhero hottie and hottie crew) once again battling evil hotties (and Mark and Phil). This year the show is “The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen”. I don’t know the plot yet, so I can’t spill the details, sorry. Suffice it to say, great tapping, I’m willing to bet a great storyline (plot written by comic book artist Andrew Pepoy, who will be at the show this Saturday), lots of fun, many laughs, and from what I’m told, bright colors. I don’t know if there is anything shiny though. Oohhh, shiny.
As with all Chicago Tap Theatre performances, I recommend taking the time to see this one. The story shows are always among my favorites, innovative, different, definitely not what I would expect of tap (well, until I got to know CTT, now I’m spoiled forever. I like being spoiled.), and just all around awesome. Plus you’ll be supporting one of the kindest, nicest, creative, innovative and hottest (I like calling them hot, because they are, and then they tell me how nice and sweet I am. I’m so easy.) performing groups in town. (And if you doubt me, I took a friend to their Mixology show back in March or so, and she’s now hyping the company and trying to figure out when she’s going to go as well. See em’ once, fall in love with them forever. Trust me.)
On a quick side note, you can cheer, clap, hoot and holler during the performance for things you like or enjoy. I always enjoy cheering for the “evil” characters. It’s more fun when “evil” wins. (This might explain some things about my life.)
Also, be aware, if you want to talk to the cast about the production, Friday nights they’ll be having special question and answer sessions.
While the show runs through the 20th of July, I’d suggest earlier rather than later (later performances of all shows tend to sell out, earlier it’s easier to get tickets), in fact I’d suggest you go this very weekend. Really, don’t you want something cool to do this weekend? And as I’ve pointed out in the past, guys, you can really impress the ladies with how culturally cool you are, and all you have to do is watch a live comic book, though you’ll love the performance on all levels I’m sure.
Hopefully I’ll see ya there this weekend.
Tickets here.
June 27-29, July 5,6, 11-13, 18-20
All Friday and Saturday shows at 8pm
All Sunday shows at 3pm
Athenaeum Theatre, Studio 3, 2936 N. Southport
For tickets, call 312-902-1500 or here.
Product Placement Time
I don’t do much advertising, but time to do some.
You got some free time an upcoming weekend, this weekend, some weekend nearby? Good, I knew you did. Go see some theater. And if you ask me what you should see, and you’re still reading so I’ll assume you are asking, there are two productions I would see currently, and I will see both of them.
In this case, go see the Strange Tree Group‘s current production, “The Mysterious Elephant, And the Terrible Tragedy of the Unlikely Addington Twins* (*Who Kill Him).”
It’s getting good reviews, it’s a fun show, a fun night, and more importantly, I like it. (FYI – I have good taste in theater, maybe not clothes, nope, not clothes, but definitely in theater.) Should you want a “professional” review, go here (I’m still cooler though). And if you doubt that it is worth it, realize I give them my time, happily, to photograph their shows to encourage their work. It’s time well spent. I think they’re worth watching.
Tickets here.
Just Checking Another Item Off the List
This quote is from the coordinator of an event I’m trying to cover this weekend. He is giving me advice on how to successfully cover the event and do so in a way respectful to those participating.
“wear few if any clothes (seriously)”
Now…I don’t know what to say here. Someday I’m going to have seen it all, done it all. Being asked to strip for work, that’s a new one for me. And not all that nice to those around me (time to take on those body image issues). Do what you got to do I guess.
Anyone know where to get some Marvin the Martian boxer briefs in Chicago? And a fedora? Seriously.
Wonderful, Strange
I had the strangest experience on Monday. I had a common holiday off. For the first time in 8-10 years, maybe more, I had Memorial Day off.
See, Memorial Day has a lot of parades and similar, and normally, I’m at those parades making photos. This year, my boss decided to give me the day off and give all that work to freelancers. This was a surprising gift.
I spent the day with two amazing, beautiful women. We picnicked, in spite of the risk of rain, we goofed off, and goofed off some more, and talked enough to write a book or two. Our blankets were covered in food, drink, piles of cameras, clubs and balls and other things for juggling, and wonderful friends.
It’s a strange experience for me to have a day off that other people have off. To be able to enjoy the company of friends so thoroughly. I want to repeat it. I want to repeat having the day off, but more than that, I want to repeat Memorial Day 2008. I want that happiness, that inner warmth, every day. It was amazing. (If I keep talking, all I’m going to do is ramble on about how good it was in a very repetitive manner.)
The photos, some of them are weird, we’re three odd people, but I just like these images. We were just having fun, being us, through and through. There are, quite literally, a hundred more I like also, but I can’t post them all.
I just want you to know, right now, I’m smiling.
Update: Sarah’s blog post, and if you don’t know Sarah, you really should, trust me. Also, her post is so much better than mine. Read it, you’ll get a feel for the day better than from me and discover you want to hang with Sarah also, but I have dibs. Just sayin’.
Because I Can, XIV
Had a couple of hours to kill between a children’s exercises shoot and state water polo championships. I’ll probably have a better variant of this tomorrow, but this was the best on that card, and I don’t have that much time to kill. 
Infra-Red (IR) Afternoon
As the weather was nothing short of gorgeous today, I figured I’d go for a bike ride. Ride the IPP (Illinois Praire Path) from Wheaton to Aurora and back. Would’ve helped if I had thrown my bike shoes in the car. Yes, along with all my other snobberies, I have clip-in shoes for my bike. I like them.
So, after a few minutes of pouting, yes, I pouted, I decided to go for a walk instead. The plan had been to bike, exercise and take some photos with the IR camera I got back in December but haven’t had much chance to use yet. Slowing down gives you more time to look, walking is the best way to see your surroundings. Since I was walking, I shot a lot.
It was fun, relaxing. They’re pointless pretty images, but they make me smile, and some of them are very Rorschach inkblot test. I know what I see, what do you see?
Something Else
It’s been a long, tough, but very good couple of days. I can’t say much beyond that, except that the view was nice.
2nd, I Hate to Say It, But It’s What I Was Hoping for
I knew 2nd was the best I could do. I don’t like 2nd, but in this case there was no chance for first. Everyone in the state who cared knew who was going to get first, it was a forgone conclusion.
Oh yeah, what am I talking about? Yeah, that detail. The IPPA (Illinois Press Photographers Association) iBOP (Illinois Best of Photojournalism) awards for 2007. If you are a photojournalist in Illinois, this is the contest you enter. This is where you get recognized by your peers.
First place this year for Feature Picture Story was going to go to Scott Strazzante. He did a piece about 10 years back on a farm that was being sold and turned into a sub-division. This year he did a follow up piece on that sub-division. The result is a series of diptychs, “Echos of the Past”, that is simply amazing. They are well thought out, conceptual, poignant, informative and non-judgmental. Some of the best PJ work I’ve seen in a long while. It’s also been widely talked about amongst journalists, photojournalists, photographers, not to mention published in the Chicago Tribune (Scott’s employeer) and National Geographic, just to name two. It will in a few years make a great book. I’ll buy one, no doubts.
So, suffice it to say, getting first for Feature Picture Story was out. The competition in this category was for 2nd (or as I prefer to call it, first loser). I got 2nd with the Summer Love series (you know, the underwater images). I’m pretty good with that. I haven’t had a chance to see the other pieces that placed yet. I didn’t get a chance to go watch the judging this year as it was done down state. But if this year is similar to previous years, it means I did some good work, this tends to be a strong category.
Also for one of the individual images from the Summer Love series I got 3rd place in Pictorial.
All and all, a pretty good day.
I look forward to seeing the winners in all the other categories when they get put online. You can see the list at least here. Congrats to all the winners. I personally look forward to enjoying the fruits of your labor, and thanks for sharing, especially, thanks for sharing.
Because I Can, VI
Random images from the last week or so. Some work, some not, some finalized, some still being debated on. Just a whatever throwing some imagery up kind of post.
Ewwww….Cooties
This is just a few quick grabs from the last few minutes of a friend’s birthday party. I normally don’t go for cute, lovey dovey crap, but hey, we all got to branch out every once and a while.
Anyhow, this is the birthday girl Nora, and her man toy, Jason. They’re good together. I like them together. She is so out of his league. And yeah, they make me want to puke also, but you still have to give them credit, they are cute together, even if disgustingly so.
I also probably should have edited this tighter, really one or two would’ve done it, but I’m not going to right now. It’s late, and I’m tired. I’m also not so sure on the sepia toning, haven’t done it before, but for some reason it felt right. I’ll change my mind in the morning.
Another Day on the Job
My current long-term project may be very serious in nature, and have very serious moments, more serious than I like to think about, it has it’s levity as well. It was Valentine’s Day, I had two beautiful women telling me that I have to wear this and that accessory. Who am I to deny two beautiful, wonderful, joyous women? Not to mention, all the ladies at facility I was at, and there were many, were flirting with me all day long. (I did dress like this all day, and I did fight them, a little, about putting it on in the first place, but their beauty over-powered me.)
To the two beautiful woman who made me wear this pimp hat, well done, and thank you.